Charities, Assistance Programs, and Donations

Charities, Assistance Programs, and Donations:   Finance |  Student Aid |  Main Menu
Charities (Charities offer help and supplies to those who need it and opportunities for others to volunteer or contribute.) List of Charities and Ratings www.charitynavigator.org Opportunities to Volunteer, see www.volunteermatch.org and createthegood.org. Goodwill Locations www.goodwill.org Salvation Army Locations www.salvationarmyusa.org Catholic Charities catholiccharitiesusa.org City Thrift Locations, www.CityThrift.org City Union Mission, www.CityUnionMission.org Food Pantries, www.foodpantries.org Heart to Heart www.hearttoheart.org Save the Children www.SaveTheChildren.org Donors Choose www.DonorsChoose.org Epilepsy www.Donate4Epilepsy.org Harvestors www.Harvesters.org Habitat for Humanity www.habitat.org Make a Wish www.wish.org Help Animals humanesociety.org Give your Hair to www.LocksOfLove.org (min. 10") also Pantene Disabled Veterans www.HelpVets.com Big Brothers Big Sisters www.DonateKC.org Ozanam www.ozanam.org Happy Bottoms www.HappyBottoms.org Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer Match www.volunteermatch.org Animal Charities and Rescue Operation Wildlife, www.owl-online.org Beak 'n Wings, www.beaknwings.org Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org (Whales) See also Adopt a Pet and Pet Rescue Charity Walk Events Charity Walk Events Statistics 22% of children in the U.S. live in poverty. 45% of children in the U.S. live in low-income families.	Assistance Programs Benefit Finder (based on your situation) Categories of Available Benefits Available Federal and State Benefits Many programs are offered by your state's Social Services department. NeedHelpPayingBills.com National Homeless Resources Need Help? Homelessness Assistance Avoiding Foreclosure Food Assistance Local food pantries and food banks can be excellent sources of free food in hard times.  See www.foodpantries.org.  Poverty is the principal cause of hunger worldwide. Local farmers markets can be excellent sources of low-cost healthy food.  See www.localharvest.org Food Resources How to Help the Homeless Immigrant Eligibility for Assistance www.OperationHope.org Available Government Services Emergency food can be obtained for free from the Kansas Food Stamp Program www.srskansas.org, Catholic Charities, and the Red Cross. Buying an Inexpensive Car Contact your electric company and your natural gas company as they will most likely have several assistance programs and cold weather programs for low income families. Inexpensive Second-Hand Marketplace Opportunities Garage sales Estate sales Foreclosure sales Flea markets Auctions Consignment Shops Consignment Sales Rhea Lana, Just Between Friends, Kids Closet Pawn Shops Vintage Clothing Medical and Dental Care If you do not have dental insurance, you can go to some local dental hygiene colleges and community colleges for low cost teeth cleanings for adults and children. Restorative care is offered at some dentistry schools. Many clinics also open during the summer. Uninsured children can get medical care at some county health department clinics for a reduced cost. Some free medical care is available at some local medical school universities   (e.g. jaydocfreeclinic.org) Help with Finding a Job or finding unemployment services See careers and unemployment	What to Donate List of Items that can be Donated to Goodwill Donate furniture to the Salvation Army Truck http://satruck.org, Click here for furniture donation instructions, 1-800-SA-TRUCK. Donate your car to www.CarsHelpingVeterans.org. Donate books to your local Library. Where to Donate Donate clothes and appliances to www.goodwill.org, www.salvationarmyusa.org, www.citythrift.org Drop Off Locations www.donationdropoff.org. Company Matching Programs Many companies offer matching for charitable contributions.   Check with the company that you work for to see if they offer a matching program. Donations can reduce your taxes Save money on taxes by keeping track of all donated items. It's Deductible Salvation Army Donation Value Guide Give the Gift of Life Donate Blood Red Cross Blood Drives, KC Community Blood Center Be an Organ Doner www.OrganDoner.gov. Be a Bone Marrow Doner https://bethematch.org, how it works Cell Phone Donations Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Text DOLPHIN to 44144 and sign the petition to support stopping the dolphin slaughter in the Japanese Cove